Display device and driving method thereof

ABSTRACT

An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides a display device including: a display unit including a plurality of pixels disposed on a display area; a display controller configured to control the display unit; a sensor including a plurality of first sensing electrodes and a plurality of second sensing electrodes disposed in the display area; and a sensor controller configured to recognize a touch of a user inputted into the sensor in a touch sensing mode and to recognize a fingerprint of the user inputted into the sensor in a fingerprint sensing mode, wherein the sensor controller changes a mode to the fingerprint sensing mode when no touch is inputted for a predetermined time period in the touch sensing mode and changes the mode to the touch sensing mode when authorization on a fingerprint inputted into the sensor is succeeded in the fingerprint sensing mode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/402,019 filed on Jan. 9, 2017, which claimspriority under 35 USC § 119 to Korean Patent Application No.10-2016-0003218, filed on Jan. 11, 2016, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein intheir entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept relates to adisplay device including a sensor capable of recognizing a touch and afingerprint and a driving method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a personal authentication method using a fingerprint, which isone of characteristic features of the individual, has been widely used.

As a method of implementing a fingerprint sensor, various recognitionmethods such as an optical type, a thermally sensitive type, and acapacitive type are known.

In the case of the capacitive fingerprint sensor among them, it ispossible to obtain a fingerprint pattern by detecting a capacitivevariation depending on valley and ridge shapes of a fingerprint of auser's finger surface when the user's finger surface contacts acapacitive sensor.

In recent years, through a mobile device, various additional functionssuch as finance and security using personal information as well ascommunication functions such as a phone service and a text messagesending service are provided. Accordingly, mobile devices includingfingerprint sensors are also wisely used in order to limit the access ofother persons.

However, a conventional fingerprint sensor needs to have an additionalspace because it has a hardware structure that is separated from adisplay device. Accordingly, additional cost and efforts are required toindividually develop and manufacture the fingerprint sensor and thedisplay device.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of the has been made in an effort to provide adisplay device including both a touch recognizing function and afingerprint recognizing function, and a driving method thereof.

An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides adisplay device including: a display unit including a plurality of pixelsdisposed on a display area; a display controller configured to controlthe display unit; a sensor including a plurality of first sensingelectrodes and a plurality of second sensing electrodes disposed in thedisplay area; and a sensor controller configured to recognize a touch ofa user inputted into the sensor in a touch sensing mode and to recognizea fingerprint of the user inputted into the sensor in a fingerprintsensing mode, wherein the sensor controller changes a mode to thefingerprint sensing mode when no touch is inputted for a predeterminedtime period in the touch sensing mode and changes the mode to the touchsensing mode when authorization on a fingerprint inputted into thesensor is succeeded in the fingerprint sensing mode.

The sensor controller may drive all the first sensing electrodes and allthe second sensing electrodes in the fingerprint sensing mode.

The sensor controller may disable some of the first sensing electrodesand some of the second sensing electrode in the touch sensing mode.

The sensor controller may group the first sensing electrodes into aplurality of first sensing electrode groups and may group the secondsensing electrodes into a plurality of second sensing electrode groupsto drive them in the touch sensing mode.

The sensor controller may disable some of the first sensing electrode ineach of the plurality of first sensing electrode groups and some of thesecond sensing electrode in each of the plurality of second sensingelectrode groups in the touch sensing mode.

The sensor controller may further includes: a fingerprint storageconfigured to store at least one reference fingerprint; and afingerprint authorizing unit configured to recognize the fingerprint ofthe user inputted into the sensor in the fingerprint sensing mode, tocompare the recognized fingerprint with the reference fingerprint, andto determine that the authorization is succeeded when the recognizedfingerprint is identical to the reference fingerprint.

The fingerprint storage may store reference fingerprints set for each ofa plurality of users, the fingerprint authorizing unit may transfer userinformation related to a user who succeeds authorization to the displaycontroller, and the display controller may control the display unit todisplay images that are different for each of the users on the displayarea by referring to the user information.

The fingerprint storage may store a plurality of reference fingerprints,and the fingerprint authorizing unit may recognize a plurality offingerprints of the user inputted into the sensor in the fingerprintsensing mode, may compare the recognized fingerprints with the referencefingerprints, and may determine that authorization is succeeded when anumber of the recognized fingerprints that are identical to thereference fingerprints is equal to or greater than a predeterminedreference number.

The sensor controller may drive all the first sensing electrodes and allthe second sensing electrodes in the touch sensing mode, recognizes thetouch and the fingerprint of the user inputted into the sensor in thetouch sensing mode together, and detects a touch pressure of the usertouch through a form variation of the recognized fingerprint.

The first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes may bedisposed to cross each other.

An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides adriving method of a display device, including: recognizing a touch of auser inputted into a sensor in a touch sensing mode; when no touch isinputted into the sensor for a predetermined time period in the touchsensing mode, changing a mode from the touch sensing mode to afingerprint sensing mode; recognizing a fingerprint of the user inputtedinto the sensor in the fingerprint sensing mode; and authorizing thefingerprint inputted into the sensor in the fingerprint sensing modeand, when the authorization is succeeded, changing the mode to the touchsensing mode, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of first sensingelectrodes and a plurality of second sensing electrodes disposed in adisplay area.

All the first sensing electrodes and all the second sensing electrodesmay be driven in the fingerprint sensing mode.

Some of the first sensing electrodes and some of the second sensingelectrode may be disabled in the touch sensing mode.

The first sensing electrodes may be grouped into a plurality of firstsensing electrode groups and the second sensing electrodes may begrouped into a plurality of second sensing electrode groups to drivethem in the touch sensing mode.

Some of the first sending electrodes in each of the plurality of firstsensing electrode groups and some of the second sending electrodes ineach of the plurality of second sensing electrode groups may be disabledin the touch sensing mode.

The authorizing of the fingerprint may include comparing the fingerprintof the user recognized in the fingerprint sensing mode with a referencefingerprint stored in a fingerprint storage and determining that theauthorization is succeeded when the recognized fingerprint is identicalto the reference fingerprint.

The fingerprint storage may store reference fingerprints set for each ofa plurality of users, and images that are different for each of theusers may be displayed on the display by referring to user informationrelated to a user who succeeds the authorization in the authorizing ofthe fingerprint.

The fingerprint storage may stores a plurality of referencefingerprints, a plurality touch of the user inputted into the sensor inthe fingerprint sensing mode may be recognized in the recognizing of thefingerprint, and the authorization may be determined to be succeededwhen a number of the recognized fingerprints that are identical to thereference fingerprints is equal to or greater than a predeterminedreference number in the authorizing of the fingerprint.

All the first sensing electrodes and all the second sensing electrodesmay be driven in the touch sensing mode, and the touch and thefingerprint of the user inputted into the sensor in the touch sensingmode may be recognized together and a touch pressure of the user isdetected through a form variation of the recognized fingerprint in therecognizing of the touch.

The first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes may bedisposed to cross each other.

As such, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present inventiveconcept, it is possible to provide a display device having both a touchrecognizing function and a fingerprint recognizing function, and adriving method thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a display area of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 2 illustrates a structure of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 3 illustrates a display unit and a display controller according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sensor and a sensor controller according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of a sensor controller according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 6A, 6B, 6C and FIG. 6D illustrate a driving method of a sensoraccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept in which different images for each user.

FIG. 8 illustrates how authorization is performed by using a pluralityof fingerprints.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept in which a pressure is detected by using form variation offingerprints.

FIG. 10 illustrates a driving method of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 illustratepositions of sensing electrodes according to various exemplaryembodiments of the present inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detaileddescription and drawings.

Advantages and features of the present inventive concept and methods toachieve them will be elucidated through exemplary embodiments describedbelow in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However,the present inventive concept is not limited to exemplary embodimentsset forth herein, and may be embodied in various different forms.Further, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrativein nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate likeelements throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, a display device and a driving method thereof according toexemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept will be describedwith reference to related drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a display area of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, and FIG. 2illustrates a structure of a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display device 10 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may include a display area DA on which images aredisplayed.

The display device 10 serving to provide images to users may displayimages on the display area DA.

Accordingly, the users of the display device 10 can watch the imagesdisplayed on the display area DA.

Further, the display device 10 can recognize a touch and a fingerprintof a specific user inputted through the display area DA for convenienceof manipulation and security.

Referring to FIG. 2, the display device 10 according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concept may include a display unit100, a display controller 200, a sensor 300, and a sensor controller400.

The display unit 100 may include a plurality of pixels disposed in thedisplay area DA, and may display images on the display area DA throughthe pixels.

For example, the display unit 100 may display images under the controlof the display controller 200.

Further, the display unit 100 may be embodied as an organic lightemitting display panel, a liquid crystal display panel, and a plasmadisplay panel, but is not limited thereto.

The display controller 200 may control an image display operation of thedisplay unit 100 by supplying an image driving signal Dd to the displayunit 100.

The display controller 200 may generate an image driving signal Dd byusing a control signal Cs and an image data DATA supplied from theoutside.

For example, the display controller 200 may receive the image data DATAand the control signal Cs from a host (not shown), and the controlsignal Cs may include a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontalsynchronization signal, a main clock signal, and the like.

Further, the image driving signal Dd may include a data signal generatedby using a scanning signal and the image data DATA.

For example, the display controller 200 may be connected with thedisplay unit 100 through an additional constituent element (e.g., acircuit board).

In another exemplary embodiment, the display controller 200 may bedirectly disposed in the display unit 100.

The sensor 300 may serve to receive a user's touch or fingerprintthrough the display area DA and to sense the touch or fingerprint.

For this purpose, the sensor 300 may include a plurality of sensingelectrodes disposed in the display area DA.

For example, the sensor 300 may be embodied as a capacitive type touchsensor, and may have high-resolution detectability (e.g., 500 pixels perinch; ppi) for recognizing a fingerprint.

The sensor 300 may be operated in a touch sensing mode (e.g., lowresolution mode) for recognizing the user's touch or in a fingerprintsensing mode (e.g., high resolution mode) for recognizing a userfingerprint.

The sensor controller 400 may control an operation of the sensor 300.

For example, the sensor controller 400 may drive the sensor 300 bysupplying a touch driving signal Td to the sensor 300.

Further, the sensor controller 400 may recognize a touch position and afingerprint of a user inputted into the sensor 300 by using a detectionsignal Sr outputted from the sensor 300.

For example, the sensor controller 400 may recognize a user touchinputted into the sensor 300 in the touch sensing mode, and mayrecognize a user fingerprint inputted into the sensor 300 in thefingerprint sensing mode.

Further, the sensor controller 400 may determine a sensing modedepending on a specific condition, and may adjust the detectability(e.g., resolution of the sensor 300; a high resolution or a lowresolution) of the sensor 300 depending on the determined sensing mode.

For example, the sensor controller 400 may change the mode from thetouch sensing mode to the fingerprint sensing mode when no touch isinputted into the sensor 300 for a predetermined time.

In addition, when authorization for the fingerprint inputted into thesensor 300 is completed in the fingerprint sensing mode, the mode may bechanged to the touch sensing mode.

FIG. 3 illustrates a display unit and a display controller according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 3, the display unit 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may include a plurality of data lines D1-Dm, aplurality of scanning lines S1-Sn, and a plurality of pixels PXL.

The pixels PXL may be disposed in the display area DA, and may beconnected with respective data lines D1-Dm and scanning lines S1-Sn.

The pixels PXL may receive data signals and scanning signals through thedata lines D1-Dm and the scanning lines S1-Sn.

The data lines D1-Dm may be connected between the data driver 220 andthe pixels PXL, and the scanning lines S1-Sn may be connected betweenthe scan driver 210 and the pixels PXL.

For example, the scanning lines S1-Sn and the data lines D1-Dm may bedisposed to cross each other.

Referring to FIG. 3, the display controller 200 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may include a scan driver 210, a data driver 220,and a timing controller 250.

The scan driver 210 may generate scanning signals under control of thetiming controller 250 to supply the generated scanning signals to thescanning lines S1-Sn.

Accordingly, each of the pixels PXL may receive the scanning signalsthrough the scanning lines S1-Sn.

For example, the scan driver 210 may receive scan driver control signalsSCS from the timing controller 250 to generate corresponding scanningsignals.

The scan driver 210 may be electrically connected with the scanninglines S1-Sn disposed in the display unit 100 through an additionalconstituent element (e.g., a circuit board).

In another exemplary embodiment, the scan driver 210 may be directlyformed in the display unit 100.

The data driver 220 may generate data signals under the control of thetiming controller 250 to supply the generated data signals to the datalines D1-Dm.

Accordingly, the pixels PXL may receive the data signals through thedata lines D1-Dm.

For example, the data driver 220 may receive the image data DATA and adata driver control signal DCS from the timing controller 250 togenerate data signal corresponding thereto.

In addition, the data driver 220 may supply the generated data signalsto each of the pixels PXL by synchronizing the generated data signalswith the scanning signals of the scan driver 210.

The data driver 220 may be electrically connected with the data linesD1-Dm disposed in the display unit 100 through an additional constituentelement (e.g., a circuit board).

In another exemplary embodiment, the data driver 220 may be directlydisposed in the display unit 100.

The timing controller 250 may control the scan driver 210 and the datadriver 220.

For example, the timing controller 250 may generate the scan drivercontrol signals SCS by using the control signals Cs supplied from theoutside, for example, a graphic controller (not shown), and may controlan operation of the scan driver 210 by supplying the scan driver controlsignals SCS to the scan driver 210.

The timing controller 250 may convert the image data DATA supplied fromthe outside to an image data DATA suitable for the data driver 220 tosupply the converted image data DATA′ to the data driver 220.

Further, the timing controller 250 may generate the data driver controlsignals DCS by using the control signal Cs supplied from the outside,and may control an operation of the data driver 220 by supplying thedata driver control signals DCS to the data driver 220.

For better comprehension and ease of description, the constituentelements included in the display controller 200 has been individuallyillustrated, but at least some of the constituent elements may beintegrated into one constituent element.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sensor and a sensor controller according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 4, the sensor 300 according to the present exemplaryembodiment may include a plurality of first sensing electrodes 310 and aplurality of second sensing electrodes 320 disposed in the display areaDA.

The first sensing electrodes 310 may be formed to extend in a firstdirection (e.g., Y-axis direction), and may be disposed in a row in asecond direction (e.g., X-axis direction) crossing the first direction.

The second sensing electrodes 320 may be disposed to be insulated fromthe first sensing electrodes 310, and thus may be operated as capacitivetype touch sensors together with the first sensing electrodes 310.

For example, the second sensing electrodes 320 may be disposed to crossthe first sensing electrodes 310.

The second sensing electrodes 320 may be formed to extend in the seconddirection (e.g., X-axis direction), and may be disposed in a row in thefirst direction (e.g., Y-axis direction) crossing the second direction.

As the first sensing electrodes 310 and the second sensing electrodes320 are disposed to cross each other, mutual capacitance is formed atcrossing points therebetween, and the crossing points at which themutual capacitance is formed may respectively serve as sensing cells forimplementing touch recognition and fingerprint recognition.

An insulating layer (not shown) may be disposed between the firstsensing electrodes 310 and the second sensing electrodes 320 in order toprevent the first sensing electrodes 310 and the second sensingelectrodes 320 from contacting.

The insulating layer may be formed in a whole area between the firstsensing electrodes 310 and the second sensing electrodes 320, or may belocally formed around crossing points between the first sensingelectrodes 310 and the second sensing electrodes 320

The first sensing electrodes 310 and the second sensing electrodes 320may be formed of a transparent conductive material, or may be formed ofanother conductive material such as an opaque metal.

For example, the first sensing electrodes 310 and the second sensingelectrodes 320 may be formed of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), IZO (Indium ZincOxide), graphene, carbon nanotube, AgNWs (Silver Nanowires, or the like.

The first sensing electrodes 310 may be driven by receiving the touchdriving signal Td from the sensor controller 400, and the second sensingelectrodes 320 may output a detection signal Sr to which a capacitancevariation is reflected to the sensor controller 400.

The sensor controller 400 may supply the touch driving signal Td to thefirst sensing electrodes 310, and may recognize a touch position and afingerprint by using the detection signal Sr outputted from the secondsensing electrodes 320.

Further, the sensor controller 400 may adjust detectability of thesensor 300 depending on the sensing mode.

For example, in the fingerprint sensing mode, the sensor controller 400can individually drive all the first sensing electrodes 310 and thesecond sensing electrodes 320.

Further, in the touch sensing mode, the sensor controller 400 may drivesome of the first sensing electrodes 310 and some of the second sensingelectrodes 320.

In general, the sensor controller 400 may group the first sensingelectrodes 310 and may group the second sensing electrodes 320 to drivethem during the touch sensing mode. In this case, the sensor controller400 may disable some of the first sensing electrodes 310 in the firstsensing electrode groups and some of the second sensing electrodes 320in the second sensing electrode groups. For example, the sensorcontroller 400 may drive one of the first sensing electrodes 310 in eachof the first sensing electrode groups and one of the second sensingelectrodes 320 in each of the second sensing electrode groups.

FIG. 5 illustrates a structure of a sensor controller according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 5, the sensor controller 400 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept may include adriving signal supplier 410, a touch detector 420, a fingerprintauthorizing unit 430, and a fingerprint storage 440.

The driving signal supplier 410 may supply the touch driving signal Tdto the first sensing electrodes 310 of the sensor 300.

For example, the driving signal supplier 410 may variously determine asupply method of the touch driving signal Td to correspond to thecurrent sensing mode.

The touch detector 420 may recognize a user's touch inputted into thesensor 300 by using the detection signal Sr outputted from the secondsensing electrodes 320.

For example, the touch detector 420 may detect a touch position inputtedin the touch sensing mode.

The fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may recognize a user fingerprintinputted into the sensor 300 by using the detection signal Sr outputtedfrom the second sensing electrodes 320.

For example, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may detect afingerprint inputted in the fingerprint sensing mode.

The fingerprint storage 440 may store at least one referencefingerprint.

In this case, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may compare thefingerprint recognized in the fingerprint sensing mode with thereference fingerprint stored in the fingerprint storage 440, and whenthe two fingerprint are identical to each other, may determine that theauthorization is succeeded.

Next, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may end the fingerprintsensing mode, and may change the mode to the touch sensing mode.

In addition, when no touch is inputted in the touch sensing mode for apredetermined time, the touch detector 420 may end the touch sensingmode and may change the mode to the fingerprint sensing mode.

For better comprehension and ease of description, the touch detector 420and the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 have been separatelyillustrated in FIG. 5, but the touch detector 420 and the fingerprintauthorizing unit 430 may be integrated into one component.

FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D illustrate a driving method of a sensor according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 6A illustrates a method of individually driving all the sensingelectrodes 310 and 320, which is may be used in the fingerprint sensingmode requiring high resolution detectability.

For example, the sensor controller 400 may individually drive all thefirst sensing electrodes 310 and all the second sensing electrodes 320in the fingerprint sensing mode.

Specifically, the sensor controller 400 may supply the touch drivingsignals Td to all the first sensing electrodes 310, and may recognize auser's fingerprint by using the detection signals Sr outputted from allthe second sensing electrodes 320.

For example, the driving signal supplier 410 may sequentially supply thetouch driving signals Td to all the first sensing electrodes 310, andthe fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may receive the detection signalsSr from all the second sensing electrodes 320.

FIG. 6B illustrates a method of driving a portion of the sensingelectrodes 310 and 320, which may be used in the touch sensing moderequiring low resolution detectability as compared with the fingerprintsensing mode.

The sensor controller 400 may drive some of the first sensing electrodes310 and some of the second sensing electrodes 320 in the touch sensingmode.

For example, the sensor controller 400 may drive the sensor 300 by usingdisabling at least one sensing electrode.

Specifically, the driving signal supplier 410 may disable at least onefirst sensing electrode 310 and may supply the touch driving signals Tdto the remaining first sensing electrodes 310, and the touch detector420 may disable at least one second sensing electrode 320 and mayreceive the detection signals Sr from the remaining second sensingelectrodes 320.

In this case, the touch detector 420 may detect a touch positioninputted in the touch sensing mode by using the detection signals Srreceived from the second sensing electrodes 320.

FIG. 6B illustrates a case that one of two neighboring sensingelectrodes is disabled, but the number of the sensing electrodes to bedisabled may be variously adjusted.

FIG. 6C illustrates a method of grouping and driving the sensingelectrodes 310 and 320, which may be used in the touch sensing moderequiring low resolution detectability as compared with the fingerprintsensing mode.

The sensor controller 400 may group and drive the first sensingelectrodes 310 and the second sensing electrodes 320 in the touchsensing mode.

For example, the sensor controller 400 may divide the sensing electrodes310 and 320 into a plurality of groups by setting predetermined numbersof sensing electrodes 310 and 320 in each group.

In this case, the sensor controller 400 may drive the sensing electrodes310 and 320 in each group as one sensing electrode.

For example, the driving signal supplier 410 may supply the same touchdriving signal Td to the second sensing electrodes 320 in the samegroup, and the touch detector 420 may receive the detection signals Srfrom the each group of the second sensing electrodes 320.

In this case, the touch detector 420 may detect a touch positioninputted in the touch sensing mode by using the detection signals Srreceived from the each group of the second sensing electrodes 320.

FIG. 6C illustrates a case that the two sensing electrodes 310 and 320are included in one group, respectively, but the numbers of the sensingelectrodes 310 and 320 included in one group may be respectivelyvariously changed.

FIG. 6D illustrates a method of driving some of groups of the sensingelectrodes 310 and 320, which may be used in the touch sensing moderequiring the low resolution detectability as compared with thefingerprint sensing mode.

The sensor controller 400 may group the first sensing electrodes 310 andthe second sensing electrodes 320 and drive portions of the groups ofthe first sensing electrodes 310 and portions of the groups of thesecond sensing electrodes 320 in the touch sensing mode.

For example, the sensor controller 400 may disable a portion of thegroups of the first sensing electrodes 310 and a portion of the groupsof the second sensing electrodes 320 in the touch sensing mode.

Specifically, the driving signal supplier 410 may disable one of twoneighboring groups of the first sensing electrodes 310 and may supplythe touch driving signals Td to the remaining groups, and the touchdetector 420 may disable one of two neighboring groups of the secondsensing electrodes 320 and may receive the detection signals Sr from theremaining groups for each group.

In this case, the touch detector 420 may detect a touch positioninputted in the touch sensing mode by using the detection signals Srreceived from some of the groups of the second sensing electrodes 320.

FIG. 6D illustrates a case that one of two groups is disabled, but thenumber of the groups to be disabled may be variously adjusted.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept in which different images for each user.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7, the fingerprint storage 440according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventive conceptmay store reference fingerprints Fc_A, Fc_B, and Fc_C for each user.

For example, the fingerprint storage 440 may store a referencefingerprint Fc_A of a user A, a reference fingerprint Fc_B of a user B,and a reference fingerprint Fc_C of a user C.

In this case, the reference fingerprints Fc_A, Fc_B, and Fc_C of theusers A, B, and C may pre-inputted into the sensor 300 and may be storedin the fingerprint storage 440.

FIG. 7 illustrates a case that one reference fingerprint Fc_A, Fc_B, andFc_C is stored for each the users A, B, and C, but a plurality ofreference fingerprints may be stored for each user.

The fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may recognize a fingerprint Fiinputted into the sensor 300 to perform authorization of the fingerprintin the fingerprint recognizing mode.

Specifically, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may compare therecognized fingerprint Fi with the reference fingerprints Fc_A, Fc_B,and Fc_C, and when the recognized fingerprint Fi is identical to one ofthe reference fingerprints Fc_A, Fc_B, and Fc_C, may determine that theauthorization is succeeded.

In other words, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may determine thatthe authorization is succeeded when there is a reference fingerprintthat is identical to the recognized fingerprint Fi in the fingerprintstorage 440, and may determine that the authorization is failed whenthere is no reference fingerprint that is identical to the recognizedfingerprint Fi in the fingerprint storage 440.

Further, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may transfer userinformation related to a user who succeeds the authorization to thedisplay controller 200.

In this case, the display controller 200 may control the display unit100 to display images Ia, Ib, and Ic that are different for each user onthe display area DA by referring to the user information transferredfrom the fingerprint authorizing unit 430.

For example, when an inputted fingerprint Fi is identical to thereference fingerprint Fc_A of the user A, the first image Ia may bedisplayed on the display area DA. When the inputted fingerprint Fi isidentical to the reference fingerprint Fc_B of the user B, the secondimage Ib may be displayed on the display area DA. When the inputtedfingerprint Fi is identical to the reference fingerprint Fc_C of theuser C, the third image Ic may be displayed on the display area DA.

Accordingly, the display device 10 according to the present exemplaryembodiment may provide UI/UX (User Interface/User eXperience) that isdifferent for each user.

FIG. 8 illustrates how authorization is performed by using a pluralityof fingerprints.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the fingerprint storage 440 according tothe present exemplary embodiment may store a plurality of referencefingerprints Fc_1, Fc_2, Fc_3 . . . , and Fc_k. (k is a natural numberthat is equal to or greater than 2)

In the fingerprint recognizing mode, the fingerprint authorizing unit430 may recognize a plurality of fingerprints Fi1, Fi2, Fi3, and Fi4inputted into the sensor 300, and may perform authorization on therecognized fingerprints Fi1, Fi2, Fi3, and Fi4.

Specifically, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may compare therecognized fingerprints Fi1, Fi2, Fi3, and Fi4 with the referencefingerprints Fc_1, Fc_2, Fc_3 . . . , and Fc_k, and when the number ofthe recognized fingerprints Fi1, Fi2, Fi3, and Fi4 that are identical tothe reference fingerprints Fc_1, Fc_2, Fc_3 . . . , and Fc_k is equal toor greater than a reference number, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430may determine that the authorization is succeeded.

For example, in the case that the reference number is preset as 2, whenthere are the reference fingerprints that are identical to two or moreof the inputted fingerprints Fi1, Fi2, Fi3, and Fi4 in the fingerprintstorage 440, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may determine that theauthorization is succeeded.

In this case, in the fingerprint sensing mode, the fingerprints Fi1,Fi2, Fi3, and Fi4 may be simultaneously or sequentially inputted intothe sensor 300, and the reference number may be variously adjusted.

For example, the fingerprints Fi1, Fi2, Fi3, and Fi4 may be fingerprintsof different fingers.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcept in which a pressure is detected by using fingerprints.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 9, as a pressure applied to thesensor 300 is increased, a shape of the fingerprint Fi inputted into thesensor 300 is variously changed.

For example, as the pressure applied to the sensor 300 is increased, asize of the fingerprint Fi is increased.

By using that, the sensor controller 400 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may detect the touch pressure through such formvariation.

In order to detect a touch pressure of a user by using the formvariation of the recognized fingerprint Fi, the sensor controller 400may individually drive all the first sensing electrodes 310 and all thesecond sensing electrodes 320 in the touch sensing mode as in thefingerprint sensing mode. (see FIG. 6A)

For example, the high resolution driving of the sensor 300 forfingerprint recognition and touch recognition may be performed for anentire time period of the touch sensing mode.

In general, the high resolution driving of the sensor 300 of the sensor300 for fingerprint recognition may be performed for a partial period ofthe touch sensing mode, and the low resolution driving of the sensor 300for touch recognition may be performed for another partial period of thetouch sensing mode.

Accordingly, in the touch sensing mode, the sensor controller 400 mayrecognize a touch and a fingerprint Fi of a user together, and maydetect a touch pressure through form variation of the recognizedfingerprint Fi.

For example, the driving signal supplier 410 may sequentially supply thetouch driving signals Td to all the first sensing electrodes 310, thetouch detector 420 may detect a touch position by using the detectionsignals Sr outputted from all the second sensing electrodes 320, and thefingerprint authorizing unit 430 may recognize the form variation byusing the detection signals Sr outputted from all the second sensingelectrodes 320.

Specifically, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may recognize a sizeof the fingerprint Fi, may calculate a pressure corresponding to thesize of the recognized fingerprint Fi,

In this case, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may refer to anadditional table or equation in order to calculate the pressure.

Further, the fingerprint authorizing unit 430 may supply information ofthe calculated pressure to the display controller 200, and the displaycontroller 200 may control the display unit 100 to display imagescorresponding to the pressure information on the display area DA.

FIG. 10 illustrates a driving method of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 10, the driving method of the display device accordingto the present exemplary embodiment may include touch recognition(S100), mode conversion (S200), fingerprint recognition (S300), andfingerprint authorization (S400).

In the touch recognition (S100), a user's touch input into the sensor300 may be recognized in the touch sensing mode.

In this case, the sensor 300 may be driven to have low resolutiondetectability for at least a partial period in the touch recognition(S100).

In the mode conversion (S200), when no touch is inputted into the sensor300 for a predetermined time period Ns in the touch recognition (S100),the mode may be changed from the touch sensing mode to the fingerprintsensing mode.

Specifically, in the case that a time period for which no touch isinputted is the time period Ns, the mode is changed to the fingerprintsensing mode. In the case that a time period for which no touch isinputted is shorter than the time period Ns, the current mode iscontinuously maintained as the touch sensing mode.

In the fingerprint recognition (S300), a user's fingerprint inputtedinto the sensor 300 in the fingerprint sensing mode may be recognized.

In this case, the sensor 300 may be driven to have high resolutiondetectability for a partial period in the fingerprint recognition(S300).

The driving methods of the sensor 300 for each sensing mode have beendescribed above with reference to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D, and thus redundantdescriptions will be omitted.

In the fingerprint authorization (S400), authorization may be performedon the fingerprint inputted into the sensor 300 in the fingerprintsensing mode, and when the authorization is succeeded, the mode may bechanged to the touch sensing mode.

For example, in the fingerprint authorization (S400), the user'sfingerprint recognized in the fingerprint recognition (S300) may becompared with a reference fingerprint stored in the fingerprint storage440, and when the two fingerprints are identical to each other, theauthorization may be determined to be succeeded.

Meanwhile, the fingerprint storage 440 may store at least one referencefingerprint for each of a plurality of users, and in this case, an imagethat is different for each user may be displayed on the display area DAby referring to information of a user who succeeds the authorization inthe fingerprint authorization (S400).

This has been described above in detail with reference to FIG. 7, andthus redundant descriptions will be omitted.

Further, the fingerprint storage 440 may store a plurality of referencefingerprints, and in this case, in the fingerprint recognition (S300),fingerprints of a plurality of users inputted into the sensor 300 may berecognized during the fingerprint sensing mode.

In addition, in the fingerprint authorization (S400), the recognizedfingerprints of the users may be compared with reference fingerprints,and when the number of the recognized fingerprints that are identical tothe reference fingerprints is equal to or greater than a referencenumber, the authorization may be determined to be succeeded.

This has been described above in detail with reference to FIG. 8, andthus redundant descriptions will be omitted.

To detect a pressure by using a user's fingerprint inputted in the touchsensing mode, the sensor 300 may be driven to have high resolutiondetectability for at least a partial period of the touch sensing mode.

For example, the first sensing electrodes 310 and the second sensingelectrodes 320 included in the sensor 300 may be individually driven inthe touch recognition (S100).

In this case, in the touch recognition (S100), a user's touch or auser's fingerprint inputted into the sensor 30 may be recognizedtogether in the touch sensing mode, and a user's touch pressure may bedetected through form variation of the recognized fingerprint.

This has been described above in detail with reference to FIG. 9, andthus redundant descriptions will be omitted.

FIG. 11 to FIG. 16 illustrate positions of sensing electrodes accordingto various exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 11, a first substrate 510 and a second substrate 520may be disposed to face each other.

For example, a first surface 511 of the first substrate 510 may face asecond surface 522 of the second substrate 520.

Further, a first surface 521 of the second substrate 520 may be disposedon an opposite side of the second surface 522.

Pixels (not shown) may be disposed in the first surface 511 of the firstsubstrate 510, and a black matrix 530 may be disposed in the secondsurface 522 of the second substrate 520.

In this case, first sensing electrodes 611 and second sensing electrodes621 may be disposed below the black matrix 530 and an insulating layer540 may be disposed between the first sensing electrode 611 and thesecond sensing electrode 621.

Accordingly, the first sensing electrodes 611 and the second sensingelectrodes 621 may be overlapped with the black matrix 530.

To prevent the sensing electrodes 611 and 621 from being seen, a widthof the black matrix 530 may be set to be wider than that of the sensingelectrodes 611 and 621.

In addition, a resolution of the sensing electrodes 611 and 621 may beset to be equal to or smaller than that of the black matrix 530.

Referring to FIG. 12, the first sensing electrodes 612 and the secondsensing electrodes 622 may be directly disposed in the second surface522 of the second substrate 520.

Further, the first sensing electrodes 612 and the second sensingelectrodes 622 may be formed of an opaque conductive material toadditionally perform a function of the black matrix.

In this case, the black matrix 530 of FIG. 11 may be omitted,

Referring to FIG. 13, first sensing electrodes 613 may be disposed onthe first surface 521 of the second substrate 520, and second sensingelectrodes 623 may be disposed below the black matrix 530.

In this case, the second substrate 520 may serve as an insulator betweenthe first sensing electrodes 613 and the second sensing electrodes 623,and thus it is not necessary to separately provide an insulating layer.

Referring to FIG. 14, first sensing electrodes 614 may be disposed onthe first surface 521 of the second substrate 520 and second sensingelectrodes 624 may be disposed on the first surface 511 of the firstsubstrate 510.

In this case, the second sensing electrodes 624 may serve as data linesfor supplying data signals to the pixels or common electrodes forsupplying driving voltages to the pixels.

Referring to FIG. 15, first sensing electrodes 615 may be disposed onthe first surface 511 of the first substrate 510, and the second sensingelectrodes 625 may be disposed below the black matrix 530.

In this case, the first sensing electrodes 615 may additionally serve asdata lines for supplying data signals to the pixels or common electrodesfor supplying driving voltages to the pixels.

Referring to FIG. 16, first sensing electrodes 616 and second sensingelectrodes 626 may be disposed on the first surface 511 of the firstsubstrate 510.

In this case, an insulating layer 550 may be disposed between the firstsensing electrodes 616 and the second sensing electrodes 626 to insulatethe first sensing electrodes 616 from the second sensing electrodes 626.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the insulating layer 550 may be formedin a whole area between the first sensing electrodes 616 and the secondsensing electrodes 626, or may be locally formed around crossing pointsbetween the first sensing electrodes 616 and the second sensingelectrodes 626.

In this case, the first sensing electrodes 616 and the second sensingelectrodes 626 may additionally serve as common electrodes for supplyingdriving voltages to the pixels.

In another exemplary embodiment, the first sensing electrodes 616 mayadditionally serve as common electrodes for supplying driving voltagesto the pixels, and the second sensing electrodes 626 may additionallyserve as data lines for supplying data signals to the pixels.

Conversely, the first sensing electrodes 616 may additionally serve asdata lines for supplying data signals to the pixels, and the secondsensing electrodes 626 may additionally serve as common electrodes forsupplying driving voltages to the pixels.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the first sensing electrodes 616may additionally serve as scanning lines for supplying scanning signalsto the pixels, and the second sensing electrodes 626 may additionallyserve as data lines for supplying data signals to the pixels.

Conversely, the first sensing electrodes 616 may additionally serve asdata lines for supplying data signals to the pixels, and the secondsensing electrodes 626 may additionally serve as scanning lines forsupplying scanning signals to the pixels.

In this case, the touch and the fingerprint may be recognized throughmutual capacitance variations of the first sensing electrodes 616 andthe second sensing electrodes 626. Further, the touch and thefingerprint may be recognized by using a piezo resistive characteristicof transistors included in pixels.

Relating to FIG. 11 to FIG. 16, positions of the first sensingelectrodes 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, and 616 and positions of the secondsensing electrodes 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, and 626 may be switched.

While this inventive concept has been described in connection with whatis presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is tobe understood that the inventive concept is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the present inventive conceptis defined not by the detailed description of the inventive concept butby the appended claims, and all various modifications and equivalentarrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claimswill be construed as being included in the present inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a first substrate;pixels provided on the first substrate; first sensing electrodes formedto extend in a first direction on the first substrate and arranged alonga second direction; and second sensing electrodes formed to extend in asecond direction on the first substrate and arranged along the firstdirection; wherein mutual capacitance is formed at crossing pointsbetween the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes,and the crossing points respectively serve as sensing cells, and whereina resolution of the sensing cells is equal to a resolution of thepixels.
 2. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a secondsubstrate have a second surface facing a first surface of the firstsubstrate; and a black matrix disposed on a second surface of the secondsubstrate, wherein the pixels are provided on a first surface of thefirst substrate, and wherein the first sensing electrodes and the secondsensing electrodes are disposed below the black matrix, and the firstsensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes overlap with theblack matrix, and the resolution of the sensing cells is equal to orsmaller than that of the black matrix.
 3. The display device of claim 1,further comprising: a second substrate have a second surface facing afirst surface of the first substrate, wherein the pixels are provided ona first surface of the first substrate, wherein the first sensingelectrodes and the second sensing electrodes are disposed directly in asecond surface of the second substrate, and wherein the first sensingelectrodes and the second sensing electrodes are formed of an opaqueconductive material.
 4. The display device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a second substrate have a second surface facing a firstsurface of the first substrate; and a black matrix disposed on a secondsurface of the second substrate, wherein the pixels are provided on afirst surface of the first substrate, wherein the first sensingelectrodes are disposed in a first surface of the second substrate, andwherein the second sensing electrodes are disposed below the blackmatrix.
 5. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a secondsubstrate have a second surface facing a first surface of the firstsubstrate, wherein the first sensing electrodes are disposed in a firstsurface of the second substrate, wherein the second sensing electrodesare disposed in a first surface of the first substrate, and wherein thesecond sensing electrodes serve as data lines for supplying data signalsto the pixels or common electrodes for supplying driving voltages to thepixels.
 6. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a secondsubstrate have a second surface facing a first surface of the firstsubstrate; and a black matrix disposed on a second surface of the secondsubstrate, wherein the first sensing electrodes are disposed in a firstsurface of the first substrate, wherein the second sensing electrodesare disposed below the black matrix, and wherein the first sensingelectrodes serve as data lines for supplying data signals to the pixelsor common electrodes for supplying driving voltages to the pixels. 7.The display device of claim 1, further comprising: an insulating layerbetween the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes,wherein the first sensing electrodes serve as data lines for supplyingdata signals to the pixels, and wherein the second sensing electrodesserve as common electrodes for supplying driving voltages to the pixels.8. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a displayincluding the pixels; a timing controller configured to control thedisplay; a sensor including the first sensing electrodes and the secondsensing electrodes; and a sensor controller including a touch detectorconfigured to recognize a touch of a user inputted into the sensor in atouch sensing mode and a fingerprint authorizer configured to recognizea fingerprint of the user inputted into the sensor in a fingerprintsensing mode, wherein the sensor controller changes a mode to thefingerprint sensing mode when no touch is inputted for a predeterminedtime period in the touch sensing mode and changes the mode to the touchsensing mode when authorization on a fingerprint inputted into thesensor is succeeded in the fingerprint sensing mode, and wherein thesensor controller sequentially drives all the first sensing electrodesin the fingerprint sensing mode and the sensor controller drives all thesecond sensing electrodes in the fingerprint sensing mode.
 9. Thedisplay device of claim 8, wherein the sensor controller drives aportion of the first sensing electrodes and a portion of the secondsensing electrodes in the touch sensing mode.
 10. The display device ofclaim 8, wherein the sensor controller groups the first sensingelectrodes into a plurality of first sensing electrode groups and thesecond sensing electrodes into a plurality of second sensing electrodegroups and drives the first and second sensing electrode groups in thetouch sensing mode.
 11. The display device of claim 10, wherein thesensor controller drives a portion of the first sensing electrode groupsand a portion of the second sensing electrode groups in the touchsensing mode.
 12. The display device of claim 8, wherein the sensorcontroller drives all the first sensing electrodes and all the secondsensing electrodes in the touch sensing mode, recognizes the touch andthe fingerprint of the user inputted into the sensor in the touchsensing mode together, and detects a touch pressure of the user touchthrough a form variation of the recognized fingerprint.
 13. The displaydevice of claim 8, wherein the sensor controller further includes afingerprint storage configured to store at least one referencefingerprint, and wherein the fingerprint authorizer is configured torecognize the fingerprint of the user inputted into the sensor in thefingerprint sensing mode, to compare the recognized fingerprint with thereference fingerprint, and to determine that the authorization issucceeded when the recognized fingerprint is identical to the referencefingerprint.
 14. The display device of claim 8, wherein the fingerprintstorage stores reference fingerprints set for each of a plurality ofusers, the fingerprint authorizer transfers user information related toa user who succeeds authorization to the display controller, and thedisplay controller controls the display to display images that aredifferent for each of the users on the display area by referring to theuser information.
 15. The display device of claim 8, wherein thefingerprint storage stores a plurality of reference fingerprints, andthe fingerprint authorizer recognizes a plurality of fingerprints of auser inputted into the sensor in the fingerprint sensing mode, comparesthe recognized fingerprints with the reference fingerprints, anddetermine that authorization is succeeded when a number of therecognized fingerprints that are identical to the reference fingerprintsis equal to or greater than a predetermined reference number.